What is a changemaker? It’s a question we often asked ourselves as we put together Marie Claire’s Changemakers List. At first the answer seemed obvious—someone, well, making change and doing good things. It quickly became clear, however, that true changemakers defy such easy definition. They aren’t engaged in a linear pursuit of purpose, but one shaped by the needs of the moment.
That is certainly the case for the 27 inspiring people who ultimately ended up on our list. Take author Lauren Groff, who opened an inclusive bookstore in the shadow of Florida’s book bans. Or researcher Akiko Iwasaki, who continues to study long COVID even as many have long forgotten about the disease. Or advocate Jotaka Eaddy, who brought together tens of thousands of Black women to raise more than $1 million for presidential nominee Kamala Harris in the span of hours.
